Shazam! #3

"SHAZAM! AND THE SEVEN REALMS" continues! Billy Batson's world is turned upside down by a figure from the past while Mary, Freddy and the rest of the Shazam Family enter a realm of endless amusements, candy factories and friends in the Funlands! But what's the catch? Plus, a shocking development within the Library of Eternity! RATED T

Shazam has quickly become one of my favorite titles. It's comics done right and shows no amount of shock deaths, quirky characterization and drastic status quo changes can beat quality storytelling. Read Full Review

Continuing to stand alone in stride, this title is the poster child of how to do self contained comics within a larger universe but still make them important and entertaining. A sheer joyride to read throughout, this series continues to provide much needed escape from the darker themes current comics tend to dwell on. Read Full Review

The creative team continues to build a vast new part of the DC Universe through these realms with this Shazam series while fleshing out Billy's family, doing so very efficiently and entertainingly thus far! King Kid's nature wasn't surprising but is still very enjoyable nonetheless. And the art is some of the most enjoyable DC's currently publishing! Read Full Review

There's a nice mix of exposition, internal conflict, and outright action that keeps Shazam! #3 moving along at a good pace. It's lovely to look at, it's getting exciting, and we have the hint that Mr. Mind may still be a problem. It's setting up some potentially interesting challenges for our young heroes. Read Full Review

With King Kid, writer Geoff Johns has created a villain who feels like Billy Batson's opposite number in the same ways that Black Adam is the opposite number to Shazam. It's a clever way of approaching the new series, and plays nicely into the themes of family and acceptance that Johns has used Shazam stories to tell in the past, since the villain is both demanding of acceptance and inclusion on his terms and also incredibly exclusionary when it comes to his own territory. Read Full Review

All writers have "tells" on their runs, and mythology has become one of Geoff Johns' biggest. He never saw a major DC property that he didn't want to take and make much bigger, much more epic. Read Full Review

While I still would prefer the classic Captain Marvel, Johns is giving us an interesting modern alternative version of the character. There is definitely potential for this series, despite the major changes to the core canon. And oddly it does seem to keep some of the original delightful silliness of the golden age comics that the modern DC Captain Marvel comics had lost. I wouldn't say that I prefer this version over the classic, but it is fun to read if you're willing to judge it on its own merits instead of measuring it against the classic version. Read Full Review

In conclusion, if you've been following SHAZAM!, it's still a good time. If you haven't, I can tell you that, even despite a slower issue, this series is still fun, cute and all around enjoyable with some neat art to boot. If you've got money to spend, it's a good place to be spending it. Read Full Review

Shazam #3is a simple story that sets up the second half of this initial story arc. Johns uses this issue to build out his world around Shazam. This is important for the series, but as an individual issue, it lacks the emotion and character building of the first two issues. New readers would be better served to pick up either of the first two issues to find introductions to the characters. Returning readers will be ready to discover how lasting of an impact these magic lands will have for the series. Read Full Review

We don't know how true King Kid's child abuse story is, but we'll have to take his word for it until we get more details. He clearly has some ulterior motives, though, being that he sicked his demented Mario-clown-janitors on the fam and jettisoned everyone to different Magiclands as soon as they made the decision to go home. Guess it's survival of the fittest time for the homies who just popped up in the Gamelands and Wildlands. Solid issue, but I think the artwork is carrying this book now that Johns has laid down the framework. I'm ok with that. This is a visual feast that should pull readers back as long as the creative team keeps their balance. Read Full Review

It looks like starting next issue we'll be getting a look at more of the lands. Are the heroes destined to protect these various realms? Or will the entire Marvel Family be heading back to “Earthlands” at the end of the arc? Worth a look. Read Full Review

It's time to discover what the Funlands are all about, but sadly that doesn't exactly mean all out fun. Yeah, there's some fun bits here, but for whatever reason, this issue came off feeling weird compared to the previous two and while I like where we get to by the end, it seems like we could have gotten there a little faster. The artwork is great though and I love these characters and even with my misgivings, I can't wait for what comes next. Read Full Review

I'm eager to see what happens. VERY eager. As in, impatient. So, let's move things along, sooner rather than later, please. I don't really care about children eating ice cream and candy. Read Full Review

A "fun for the whole family!" type of book!
This new Shazam series is great! The art is beautiful, the book is fun. And theres a 2page spread that reminds me of Johns and Eaglesham's Justice Society! So all good here!

King Kid who happens to govern the place treats Shazam family with best of the bests he can come up with at once and it looks like he wants to be the 7th family member so bad he tries to extract certain information from them. He then takes Mary hostage as soon as he realises she's 18. (Now I get that scene from previous comic where a guy tried to run away from the clowns who brought him a nice cake with 'Happy 18th Birthday' written on it)

Now Billy, Eugene and Pedro transform to save the rest of them as things heat up in a matter of moments, but for the love of goodness, it seems like every children in Fundlands were brainwashed to think of Adults as bad people. Conveniently, Eugene and Pedro were sent to the Gamelands while Darla and Freddy to the Wildlands, I thought this comic could never get better than this.

King Kid's origin is rather well developed, provides adequate reasons for what he does and why he does it. Eaglesham has come back to draw, he emphasises on the 'Fun' this time. On a more side note, gotta love the variant cover art in each of these comics.more

This issue was primarily set up, but I'm liking where Johns is going with the Magiclands and the hinting of a future family member. However, I'm still curious as to what's going on with Billy's birth father. One thing that I am hoping for is whether or not each member of the family has a tie to a specific magicland. Definitely will continue reading!

Truly a great issue! We may not got any new information on the parent story but we learn about King Kid(although don’t think that’s truly true). Art is gorgeous! Such a fun book to read. Wish Mary got a little more of dialogue though.

Were is Shazam. I tired of this nonsens with the kid. And I didn't feel I could trust King Kid, I was with Mary on that. Funworld was a little creepy. Something was off all along and that make me ill at ease.

Cover - The variant. Not that great and non related. 0.5/2
Writing - I feel like I have the knowledge of what will happen all along. 2.5
Arts - Well the strength of this comics. Each panel have so much details. 3/3
Feeling - i will stop because it's not what I looked for. 0/2